Friday 27 May 2022
In response to public and Parish representative feedback about the impact of roadworks on traffic flow in the north of the Island, Traffic & Highway Services (THS) has investigated the potential to move their scheduled remedial works for St. Clair Hill, due to commence on Monday 30th May, to a later date to avoid exacerbating congestion.
It has been identified that these works may be swapped with the resurfacing works scheduled to take place on Les Loriers Lane, Vale in September. That is, the works on Les Loriers Lane will instead commence next week and the majority of the works on St. Clair Hill will be postponed until September.
There is an urgent patch repair required on St. Clair Hill that will still need to take place within the next couple of weeks, but THS are hopeful that this can be completed within a day and outside of peak hours.
Whilst on this occasion an alternative has been found, THS does have an obligation to facilitate planned works for utility companies and their contractors to ensure that islanders are consistently provided with essential amenities such as water, electricity, gas and internet - including major infrastructure programmes such as the fibre roll out. Emergency and urgent works also regularly need to be accommodated at late notice, for example to reinstate supply or reduce the risk of service failures. Furthermore, THS is required to consider traffic management applications to enable events to take place on or near the Public Highway.
THS does of course recognise that the impact of a combination of roadworks and events can cause significant frustration and some delay to the travelling public, there is a complex jigsaw to piece together due to the significant number of applications being received. It is not uncommon for applicants to have to wait months in order to be able to undertake works on major roads, and THS makes every effort to encourage utilities and contractors to work together to minimise disruption.
While closures usually necessitate diversions and alternative routes for motorised traffic, the road closures policy aims to ensure that wherever possible, access on foot or by bike is maintained.
